Classic Van Insurance

What makes a van a classic van?

If you own a classic van then you will want to make sure it is adequately insured – but you may have found that classic car insurers will not quote for van and that specialist van insurers will not quote for classic vehicles.

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And when you do find an insurer that will offer you a classic van insurance deal, you may find that the price you are quoted is a lot higher than you expected.

This is largely because insurers have different definitions of what exactly makes a classic van and so many will find it difficult to make an accurate valuation and will either refuse to quote you or offer you an overpriced, and possibly unsuitable, policy.

So it is important that you shop around for classic van insurance so as to make sure that you get not only the right price, but also the right level of cover. And using MoneySupermarket’s comparison tool you can instantly compare classic van insurance quotes.

What makes a van a classic van?

As there is no definitive guide to what makes a van a classic, the type of insurance you have depends largely upon the provider you choose. For instance, the Classic Car Club of America defines a classic van as one that was manufactured between 1925 and 1948, yet most insurers will give the ‘classic’ tag to a van that was built 20 years ago.

Which means that your classic 1950s Austin Devon pick-up is put in the same category as an early-90s Bedford Rascal – which seems a little odd, to say the least.

Nonetheless, this is the general definition and the important thing when insuring a classic is that you get an agreed valuation so that you’re not paid ‘market value’ in the event of a claim, which would probably mean that the Bedford Rascal would fetch more than that Austin Devon!

An agreed valuation is used to determine what the car is actually worth in its current state, taking into account any restoration work or modifications and you will have to send your insurer photographs of your car to show its current state and, possibly, evidence of the work that’s been carried out.

This is needed in the case of a write-off as insurers usually operate on a replacement or like-for-like basis, the value of the car being set at the current market rate and taking depreciation into account.

Obviously, this is not possible with a classic car as it would probably be almost worthless if it was given current market value, factoring in depreciation, and it’s unlikely that the owner will actually know the true value of the car, particularly if it has been modified and is a ‘one-off’.

How is the cost of classic van insurance cover affected?

On the one hand, it may be cheaper to insure a classic van than a standard van as insurers tend to assume that classic van owners will take greater care of their vehicle and won’t necessarily be using it to transport goods in the way a van driver usually would.

Another reason you may get a cheap quote on a classic is because you are likely to do fewer miles each year than someone with a contemporary van as it’s probably not your everyday vehicle.

However, this could be countered by the fact that replacement parts are harder to come by and may be expensive, particularly if you require genuine and not reproduction parts, and higher repair costs can push up the price of your premium.

When choosing a policy you should also make sure that it covers your van for special occasions, particularly if you are likely to attend events like vehicle shows. If you are not covered for such occasions, your insurer may not pay out if you have to claim for an accident that occurs while attending an event.

Also be on the look-out for policies that actually have a clause inserted that means the insurer does not have to pay out in the event of a claim arising from the owner having attended a special event such as a classic vehicle show.

How to get the right classic van insurance policy at the right price

As with any type of insurance, you should shop around to find the best quote, bearing in mind that the cheapest price is not always the best value for money if the policy does not fully meet your requirements.

The simplest way to do this is to use MoneySupermarket’s classic van insurance comparison tool, which instantly compares quotes from a range of classic van insurance companies to help you find the right cover at the right price.